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CEGL000403 Pinus contorta var. contorta - Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovatum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Beach Pine - Sitka Spruce / California Huckleberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mid-seral association is locally common along the Pacific Coast between northern California and southwestern Washington, where it occurs on dry stabilized dunes, tree islands and deflation plains. Most aspects and slopes are represented. A poorly developed humus layer from 2.5 to 15.2 cm (1-6 inches) deep overlies sand. Stands are dominated by Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis, with smaller amounts of Pseudotsuga menziesii. Young stands on deflation plains may be composed of low, nearly impenetrable, wind-pruned thickets subject to salt spray and sand abrasion. Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis are the dominant reproducing conifers. Older stands may be littered with fallen trees, mostly Pinus contorta. The shrub layer is generally dense, dominated by Vaccinium ovatum, Gaultheria shallon, and Morella californica, with up to 95% cover. Shrub height averages 2.4 m (8 feet) and can be up to 3.7 m (12 feet). The ground layer is depauperate because of the high shrub cover, but mosses are moderately abundant. Picea sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla eventually replace the Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta, but Tsuga heterophylla survives only in areas sheltered from salt spray.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis, with smaller amounts of Pseudotsuga menziesii. Young stands on deflation plains may be composed of low, nearly impenetrable, wind-pruned thickets subject to salt spray and sand abrasion. Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis are the dominant reproducing conifers. Older stands may be littered with fallen trees, mostly Pinus contorta. The shrub layer is generally dense, dominated by Vaccinium ovatum, Gaultheria shallon, and Morella californica (= Myrica californica), with up to 95% cover. Shrub height averages 2.4 m (8 feet) and can be up to 3.7 m (12 feet). The ground layer is depauperate because of the high shrub cover, but mosses are moderately abundant. Picea sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla eventually replace the Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta, but Tsuga heterophylla survives only in areas sheltered from salt spray.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This mid-seral association is locally common along the Pacific Coast between northern California and southwestern Washington, where it occurs on dry stabilized dunes, tree islands and deflation plains. Most aspects and slopes are represented. A poorly developed humus layer from 2.5 to 15.2 cm (1-6 inches) deep overlies sand.
Geographic Range: The association occurs along the Pacific Coast between northern California and southwestern Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684904
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce North-Central Pacific Rainforest Group | G751 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Alliance | A3607 Sitka Spruce Stabilized Dune Forest Alliance | A3607 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Association | CEGL000403 Beach Pine - Sitka Spruce / California Huckleberry Forest | CEGL000403 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus contorta var. contorta-Picea sitchensis/Vaccinium ovatum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_095]
= Sitka Spruce / Evergreen Huckleberry Forest (Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovatum) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.48)]
= Sitka Spruce / Evergreen Huckleberry Forest (Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovatum) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.48)]
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Byrd, N .L. 1950. Vegetation zones of coastal dunes near Waldport, OR. M.S. thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 44 pp.
- Christy, J. A., J. S. Kagan, and A. M. Wiedemann. 1998. Plant associations of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-09-98. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 pp.
- Duebendorfer, T. 1992. Vegetation classification, rare plant analysis, impacts, restoration, and habitat management strategies for the Humboldt County Beach and Dunes Management Plan. Report to Humboldt County Planning and Building Department, Eureka, CA. 105 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., E. M. Nielsen, M. D. Noone, J. C. van Warmerdam, L. K. Wise, G. Kittel, and C. Copass. 2012. Lewis and Clark National Historic Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/597. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Kumler, M. L. 1969. Plant succession on the sand dunes of the Oregon coast. Ecology 50:695-704.
- Martin, R. C., and R. E. Frenkel. 1978. Preserve analysis: Blacklock Point. Oregon Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee to the State Land Board, Salem, OR. 63 pp.
- Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
- ORNHP [Oregon Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data files. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
- Plemons, C. L. 1977. Some ordinations of forest vegetation of the western Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon. Unpublished M.S. research paper. Department of Geography, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 42 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.